Discipleship

07/30/2015

The Importance of Studying Apologetics Regularly

by Alan Shelmon

I was recently asked, what is the role of apologetics? What is the value for the average Christian in studying apologetics? Is there any profit to doing so? This is a great question. I see apologetics not as an end in itself but rather a means to an end. In other words, when I'm talking to people who don't share my faith convictions, for example, non-believers, I don't bring up apologetic issues. It’s not like I start off by trying to talk about stem cell research, or abortion, or Islam, or homosexuality, or evolution. Rather, when I talk to someone who doesn't share my faith, I want to present to them the gospel, Jesus Christ.

I’m an ambassador for Jesus, and I'm called to proclaim the message of reconciliation to these people, and so that's what I do. That's how I start off. Chances are, they're not going to want to accept the message of reconciliation that God has. Chances are that they'll have a reason why they don’t want to do that…

In case you haven’t been paying attention, young American believers are at a critical crossroad. Every study reveals the same disturbing attrition rate, and when questioned, young ex-Christians (and ex-theists) typically point to intellectual skepticism as a key contributor. If you’re a Christian parent, ask yourself a question: If your child came to you with serious scientific or philosophical doubts related to theism or Christianity, would you be ready (and able) to answer their objections or address their concerns? It’s time to get in the game and accept our parental responsibility in this important area.— J. Warner Wallace (from, an interview by Natasha Cain)

Apologetics Ghetto

Christian Worldview Discipleship

“Apologetics ghetto”

That’s a great little name I heard from Brett Kunkle a few weeks back, listening to Stand to Reason’s podcast. He talks about a meeting of youth leaders, and how he and only one other guy (out of about 50) were the only apologetic/worldview focused guys, training young people in that way. Worldview/apologetic focused training is a minority in the church.

Kunkle is right about us being a minority, and how small the (full time) apologetics and worldview community is, and how few the resources are. But it is even less in a less developed country. There may very well be full-time Christian apologetics and worldview operations going on, but I have not encountered or heard of them. That at the very least means they don’t have the reach, cannot broadcast their material, which doesn’t help anyone. So virtually non-existant, because unless you’re standing right next to them, you wont know they exist. I checked one website I could find, just to make sure. The “latest” was a year old, with no archives newer than eight years.

I think there’s a variety of factors that contribute to this virtually non-existent focus on apologetics and worldview. Not many asking. No one offering. Subjectivism and anti-intellectualism. Fortress/separatist mentality of the evangelical community. So I agree with Brett Kunkle again, that the apologetics and worldview community is growing, but there’s still much work to be done…

Do Your Kids Know Why They Need God?

by Natasha Crain

A few months ago, my 6-year-old daughter asked a question that has had me thinking ever since:

Mommy, why does God matter so much?

It was the most fundamental of questions, really. Yet I was embarrassingly uncertain of how to answer it in a way that meaningfully encapsulates the full answer for her. I’ve thought about the question many times since she first asked it, and it’s always bothered me that I haven’t quite been able to put my finger on how best to reply.

Meanwhile, in the last several months, I happen to have read a lot of “deconversion” stories online (testimonies from ex-Christians of why they lost their faith). It hit me just recently that there’s a theme at the end of many such stories which ultimately points back to the answer to my daughter’s question (I’ll come back to that at the end of this post):

After people recount how they lost their faith, they often conclude their story with a glib comment of how they moved on because they “didn’t need God anymore.”

This is a strange conclusion that I think betrays a lack of deeper insight.

Here’s the deal:

If God exists, we need Him. All things were created through and for Him; He is the Source and sustainer of everything by definition. Therefore, if God exists, it’s not a choice to need Him, it’s simply a fact that we do.

Interview with God’s Crime Scene Author J. Warner Wallace

By Natasha Crain

If you’ve followed my blog for a while, you’ve seen me repeatedly recommend the book Cold-Case Christianityby detective J. Warner Wallace. It’s my go-to book to help people start learning the case for Christianity. I love how he uniquely and compellingly uses a detective’s skill set to investigate the claims of the Gospels.

Today I’m excited to tell you that Det. Wallace has a new book coming out August 1st that will now powerfully help readers learn the case for God.

God’s Crime Scene brilliantly lays out the case for God’s existence based on cumulative evidence from the origin of the universe, the fine-tuning of the universe, the origin of life, the design of life, our experience of consciousness, free will, and morality. In each chapter, Det. Wallace evaluates possible explanations for these pieces of evidence, just as a detective would evaluate possible explanations for evidence found at a crime scene. In the process, he points readers to “expert witnesses” who vary in their conclusions about the evidence and then provides an excellent reading list at the end of the book so the reader can continue to study both sides of the issue. One of the things I loved most about the book is that each chapter adds to an emerging “suspect” profile that characterizes the nature of who or what must be responsible for the evidence presented. Det. Wallace also includes 70-plus pages of a more in-depth “secondary investigation” at the end with a chapter-by-chapter dive into greater detail for those wanting to know more.

If you want to learn the evidence for God’s existence (which every parent should), I can’t think of a better place to start. And here’s an exciting opportunity: Starting August 17, I’ll be leading a read-along in the Facebook group “Apologetics for Parents.” We’re simply reading a chapter per week together and discussing the material. So grab your copy of the book, request to join the Facebook group, and read chapter 1 by August 17.

I had the honor of interviewing Det. Wallace about God’s Crime Scene this week and I’m thrilled to share what he had to say.

I love God’s Crime Scene because it’s engaging, it’s appropriate for “beginners” while digging much deeper than most entry-level books on the same subject, it’s highly memorable given your unique detective’s approach and illustrations, and it points readers to the resources they need next. Because of those characteristics, it’s not only a great book for parents, it’s also a great book for parents to read with their (older) kids—no experience necessary! What tips do you have for a parent who might want to study God’s Crime Scene with their teens?

I became a Christian while in the middle of a career as a homicide detective, and I soon realized my professional experience provided me with a unique opportunity to help people examine the evidence for Christianity and theism (the belief in God). Let’s face it, everyone watches detective shows. If I told you we could look at the evidence for God and Jesus while simultaneously mastering some of the tools detectives use to investigate murders, do you think you (or your kids) might be interested? That’s the goal of Cold-Case Christianity and God’s Crime Scene. Let me explain the approach in the latest book…

07/28/2015

Like the acclaimed Apologetics Study Bible that has sold 115,000+ copies, the Apologetics Study Bible for Students will anchor younger Christians in the truths of Scripture by equipping them with thoughtful and practical responses for whenever the core issues of their faith and life are challenged.

Multiple research studies have shown that spiritual focus often weakens among teenagers as they head into the attention-dividing realm of young adulthood. Up to 66% of them leave church altogether. The Apologetics Study Bible for Students works against that trend by helping this audience begin to better articulate its beliefs. In addition to the complete HCSB text and dozens of articles collected from today’s most popular youth leaders, including general editor Sean McDowell. ORDER YOUR COPY NOW >>>

Written by an L. A. County homicide detective and former atheist, Cold-Case Christianity examines the claims of the New Testament using the skills and strategies of a hard-to-convince criminal investigator. Christianity could be defined as a “cold case”: it makes a claim about an event from the distant past for which there is little forensic evidence. In Cold-Case Christianity, J. Warner Wallace uses his nationally recognized skills as a homicide detective to look at the evidence and eyewitnesses behind Christian beliefs. Including gripping stories from his career and the visual techniques he developed in the courtroom, Wallace uses illustration to examine the powerful evidence that validates the claims of Christianity. A unique apologetic that speaks to readers’ intense interest in detective stories,Cold-Case Christianity inspires readers to have confidence in Christ as it prepares them to articulate the case for Christianity. ORDER YOUR COPY NOW >>>

A surprising number of well-known Bible verses are commonly misused and misunderstood. Whether intentionally or not, people take important verses out of context, and pastor and Bible scholar Eric J. Bargerhuff has seen the effects: confusion, faulty decisions, sin being dismissed, and more. With a deft touch, he helps readers understand and apply sound principles of interpretation and application of twenty familiar verses. This concise high-interest approach appeals to the curious as well as readers concerned about incorrect theology.

Perhaps you remember being in a university class, feeling frustrated when the respected professor dismissed questions from a student because of her religious faith. Or maybe over a business lunch one of your colleagues referred to Christianity as a fairytale, and you said nothing. Many Christians find themselves in such situations but don’t speak up because they don’t fully realize the strength of their own position. They feel incapable of giving reasons for the hope that is theirs. Christian apologetics is the discipline and growing body of knowledge that equips believers to address their own doubts, to converse with seekers and critics from a position of strength, and to bear witness to Christ with confidence. In the spirit of the title question, If God Made the Universe, Who Made God? collects 130 essays written in defense of the Christian faith. Contributors include some of the pre-eminent apologists of our time, from Lee Strobel and Charles Colson to Hank Hanegraaff, J. P. Moreland, and Ravi Zacharias. ORDER YOUR COPY NOW >>>

In classroom and scholarly study, the Gospels, Acts, and the Pauline letters receive far more attention than does the so-called “end” of the New Testament: Hebrews; James; 1 and 2 Peter; 1, 2, and 3 John; Jude; and Revelation. Faithful to the End: An Introduction to Hebrews Through Revelation offers a careful study of these latter biblical letters, closely examining each one's authorship and origin, destination and audience, purpose, and major themes. Appropriate as a reference work or textbook in college and seminary classrooms, this volume uniquely combines head knowledge with a challenge to the heart, for it is purposefully titled after each book’s recurring theme of persevering in the faith. Coauthor Terry L. Wilder writes, “Our hope is that God might use this text to help readers not only learn about these New Testament books, but also to appropriate the message contained in each. May we be faithful to the end!” ORDER YOUR COPY NOW >>>

Christian Worship (revised and expanded in this third edition) is the complete reference handbook on the meaning, expression, and conducting of worship, from its foundational elements to the very latest contemporary issues. Taking into account cultural and denominational differences, this broad resource clearly directs all church members in the number one priority of worshipping God.

Among the subjects addressed are: Banners and Symbolism (Do they have a place in worship?); Children in Worship; Copyright Laws (Does your church comply?); Drama; and Elements of Worship (What are the specific roles of music, prayer, Scripture reading, baptism, preaching, and the Lord’s Supper?).

This thorough and biblical discipleship manual will prove to be practical and edifying to those who are new believers and will challenge those who have known Christ longer to go forward to greater Christ-likeness and spiritual maturity. These four biblical alphabets can be used in many settings: personal study, one-on-one discipleship, small groups, Sunday school class curriculum and Christian school and home school Bible study material.

In Jesus in the Present Tense, Dr. Warren W. Wiersbe explores the “I AM” statements of God—from His burning bush conversation with Moses, to His powerful reassurances to the Israelites, to Jesus’s startling claim to be the Light of the World. Many Christians find themselves mired in past regrets or future fears, but the name of God itself reminds readers that God wants them to live in the present. The more readers understand and apply God’s I AM statements from the Old and New Testaments, the more they will realize God’s peace and joy. Then they will be free to live, serve, and know God more richly in the present tense—which is just where He wants them to be.

Most people live a life they never would have planned. The good news is that coming to the end of their expectations means they’re on the brink of great wisdom, peace, and joy. That’s what the ancient author of Ecclesiastes helps us figure out—it is quite possible to face detours and dead-ends in life and still find more satisfaction than you ever could have imagined. Better explores the mysteries, scandalous lines, and deep truths of Ecclesiastes and applies them to life today. Better seeks to show how the questions of the heart find their answer in the person of Jesus. Here you will find a vision of life that is neither naive nor cynical, but realistic and hopeful. Because the truth is, when God answers the questions, you finally realize what is better.

Voddie Baucham has a message for Christians in today’s culture—it’s time to take a stand for the truth. In The Ever-Loving Truth, this powerful preacher and teacher addresses the cost of being a twenty-first century Christian and helps adults apply the unchanging truth of God’s Word to contemporary life issues. The Ever-Loving Truth draws parallels between committed Christians in our society and the New Testament writers, Peter and John, as followers of Christ who proclaimed and stood for truth in their non-Christian environment. Participants will find this compelling study leads them to evaluate what it means to be a Christian today and how to apply God’s unchanging truth to a variety of circumstances. ORDER YOUR COPY NOW >>>

You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me. John 18:37

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For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

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For we did not follow cleverly contrived myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ; instead, we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 2 Peter 1:16